Patents by Inventor Pierre R. Mesnil

Pierre R. Mesnil has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 12226099
    Abstract: A surgical stapler having an end effector, a firing drive electric motor, and a control circuit is disclosed. The firing drive electric motor is configured to actuate a staple firing stroke of the end effector. The control circuit can be configured to provide a pulse width modulated (PWM) electrical signal to the firing drive electric motor and adjust a duty cycle of the PWM electrical signal based at least in part on a speed of the staple firing stroke. The control circuit can further be configured to provide a pulse width modulated (PWM) electrical signal to the firing drive electric motor, adjust a duty cycle of the PWM electrical signal based at least in part on a target speed of a staple firing stroke, and lower the target speed in response to the duty cycle exceeding a safety threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
    Inventors: Zhifan F. Huang, Pierre R. Mesnil, Michael J. Stokes, Richard L. Leimbach, Shane R. Adams
  • Publication number: 20240382198
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a first jaw (16) and a second jaw (618, 718, 900) that cooperate to clamp and staple tissue (90). The second jaw includes a jaw body (620, 720, 902, 1202) and a distal tip (619, 719, 906, 1206) pivotable relative to the jaw body between a first discrete and a second discrete position. First and second openings (663, 784, 785, 932, 934, 1208, 1210) are both defined by one of the distal tip or a structure (621, 920, 1212) located proximal to the distal tip. A projection (637, 781, 918, 1214) is defined by the other of the distal tip or the structure. The projection is positionable within the first opening (663, 785, 932, 1208) to releasably retain the distal tip in the first discrete position, and within the second opening (663, 784, 934, 1210) to releasably retain the distal tip in the second discrete position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2024
    Publication date: November 21, 2024
    Applicant: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Weston S. Hirschfeld, Daniel V. Jones, Pierre R. Mesnil, John May, Jeffery Bruns
  • Publication number: 20240382202
    Abstract: A stapling assembly for a surgical instrument includes a body extending along a longitudinal axis and having an upper deck, a plurality of pockets extending through the upper deck for receiving respective staples and arranged in at least two longitudinal rows, a plurality of staple drivers, and a staple driver actuator. The stapling assembly also includes a plurality of pocket extenders extending upwardly from the upper deck. Each pocket extender has a respective top surface. The stapling assembly further includes at least one upwardly-facing surface configured to contact an adhesive of an adjunct for securing the adjunct to the stapling assembly. The at least one upwardly-facing surface is disposed at least partially between at least a portion of the upper deck and the top surfaces of the plurality of pocket extenders, and spans laterally at least partially across at least two longitudinal rows of the plurality of pockets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2024
    Publication date: November 21, 2024
    Inventors: Gregory G. Scott, Nicholas Fanelli, Kevin M. Fiebig, John P. May, Nicholas A. Wilson, Devanathan Raghavan, Jeffery D. Bruns, Pierre R. Mesnil, Scott A. Jenkins, Kristin L. Jambor, Cory G. Kimball, Anil K. Nalagatla, Shannon L. Jones, Frederick E. Shelton, IV
  • Publication number: 20240350137
    Abstract: A method of operating a surgical instrument includes clamping tissue with a surgical instrument end effector and actuating the end effector to drive staples into the clamped tissue, including a first longitudinal row having at least one first formed staple with a first formed shape in which the first legs are aligned laterally with each other and with the first crown; a second longitudinal row having at least one second formed staple with a second formed shape in which each second leg is skewed laterally away from the second crown at a first angle; and a third longitudinal row of third formed staples having at least one third formed staple with a third formed shape in which each third leg is skewed laterally away from the third crown at a second angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2024
    Publication date: October 24, 2024
    Inventors: Nicholas Fanelli, Kevin M. Fiebig, Jeffery D. Bruns, John K. Bruce, Pierre R. Mesnil, Shannon L. Jones, John W. Stodghill, Gregory G. Scott, Devanathan Raghavan, John P. May, Nicholas A. Wilson, Cory G. Kimball, Kristin L. Jambor, Scott A. Jenkins
  • Publication number: 20240341761
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a jaw body, an anvil surface defined by the jaw body, and an elongate slot extending through the anvil surface and along a longitudinal axis of the jaw body. The apparatus further includes a first longitudinal row of staple forming pockets disposed on the anvil surface and configured to form a plurality of first staples such that first legs of each formed first staple are laterally aligned with each other. The apparatus also includes a second longitudinal row of staple forming pockets disposed on the anvil surface laterally outwardly of the first longitudinal row of staple forming pockets relative to the longitudinal axis, and configured to form a plurality of second staples such that second legs of each formed second staple skew laterally away from a second crown of the respective formed second staple.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2024
    Publication date: October 17, 2024
    Inventors: Nicholas Fanelli, Kevin M. Fiebig, Jeffery D. Bruns, John K. Bruce, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, John W. Stodghill, Shannon L. Jones, Pierre R. Mesnil
  • Publication number: 20240245402
    Abstract: An adjunct configured for use with an end effector of a surgical stapler includes a tissue-effecting portion comprising a first material, and at least one movable attachment feature coupled to the tissue-effecting portion and comprising a second material different from the first material. The at least one movable attachment feature is configured to releasably attach the tissue-effecting portion to a stapling surface of the end effector. The tissue-effecting portion is configured to contact tissue clamped by the end effector during closure thereof. The tissue-effecting portion is further configured to be pierced and captured by staples ejected from the end effector into the clamped tissue and thereby reinforce the engagement between the ejected staples and the clamped tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2024
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Inventors: Christopher Q. Seow, Taylor W. Aronhalt, Tyler N. Brehm, Zhifan F. Huang, Austin J. Bridges, Pierre R. Mesnil, Diana M. Darpel, Morgan R. Hunter, Chad P. Boudreaux
  • Patent number: 11998201
    Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument comprising a tissue cutting knife movable through a staple cartridge to perform a staple firing stroke is disclosed. The stapling instrument further comprises a lockout system configured to prevent the tissue cutting knife from being moved through the staple firing stroke if the staple cartridge is missing from the stapling instrument and/or if the staple cartridge has been previously fired. The lockout system comprises a flexible spring that acts on the bottom of the tissue cutting knife at the initiation of the staple firing stroke to push the tissue cutting knife into a lockout recess if the staple cartridge is missing or has been previously fired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag CmbH International
    Inventors: Zhifan F. Huang, Richard L Leimbach, Geoffrey C. Hueil, Nicholas J. Ross, Brian K. Spinneweber, Joshua R. Ruoff, Robbin B. Johnson, Daniel L. Baber, Pierre R. Mesnil
  • Publication number: 20240115259
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a first jaw (16) and a second jaw (618, 718, 900) that cooperate to clamp and staple tissue (90). The second jaw includes a jaw body (620, 720, 902) and a distal tip (619, 719, 906) pivotable relative to the jaw body between a first discrete and a second discrete position. First and second openings (663, 784, 785, 932, 934) are both defined by one of the distal tip or a structure (621, 920) located proximal to the distal tip. A projection (637, 781, 918) is defined by the other of the distal tip or the structure. The projection is positionable within the first opening (663, 785, 932) to releasably retain the distal tip in the first discrete position, and within the second opening (663, 784, 934) to releasably retain the distal tip in the second discrete position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventors: Steven H. Nguyen, Nicolo Garbin, Megan M. Greenwood, Benjamin N. Barnes, Marcus P. Pantoja, David J. Salisbury, Weston S. Hirschfeld, Pierre R. Mesnil, Daniel V. Jones
  • Patent number: 11950781
    Abstract: An adjunct configured for use with an end effector of a surgical stapler includes a tissue-effecting portion comprising a first material, and at least one movable attachment feature coupled to the tissue-effecting portion and comprising a second material different from the first material. The at least one movable attachment feature is configured to releasably attach the tissue-effecting portion to a stapling surface of the end effector. The tissue-effecting portion is configured to contact tissue clamped by the end effector during closure thereof. The tissue-effecting portion is further configured to be pierced and captured by staples ejected from the end effector into the clamped tissue and thereby reinforce the engagement between the ejected staples and the clamped tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Christopher Q. Seow, Taylor W. Aronhalt, Tyler N. Brehm, Zhifan F. Huang, Austin J. Bridges, Pierre R. Mesnil, Diana M. Darpel, Morgan R. Hunter, Chad P. Boudreaux
  • Publication number: 20240023962
    Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising an articulatable end effector and an articulation control system is disclosed. The articulation control system comprises actuators that, when actuated, cause the end effector to articulate in predetermined directions. When the end effector is rotated downwardly, the articulation control system flips, or switches, the response to the inputs from the actuators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventors: ZHIFAN F. HUANG, Richard L. Leimbach, Geoffrey C. Hueil, Nicholas J. Ross, Brian K. Spinneweber, Joshua R. Ruoff, Robbin B. Johnson, Daniel L. Baber, Pierre R. Mesnil, Marissa T. Kamenir
  • Publication number: 20230139613
    Abstract: An adjunct configured for use with an end effector of a surgical stapler includes a tissue-effecting portion comprising a first material, and at least one movable attachment feature coupled to the tissue-effecting portion and comprising a second material different from the first material. The at least one movable attachment feature is configured to releasably attach the tissue-effecting portion to a stapling surface of the end effector. The tissue-effecting portion is configured to contact tissue clamped by the end effector during closure thereof. The tissue-effecting portion is further configured to be pierced and captured by staples ejected from the end effector into the clamped tissue and thereby reinforce the engagement between the ejected staples and the clamped tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Christopher Q. Seow, Taylor W. Aronhalt, Tyler N. Brehm, Zhifan F. Huang, Austin J. Bridges, Pierre R. Mesnil, Diana M. Darpel, Morgan R. Hunter, Chad P. Boudreaux
  • Publication number: 20230048389
    Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument includes an anvil defining a plurality of staple forming pockets and a stapling head assembly configured to drive a plurality of staples against the staple forming pockets of the anvil. The stapling head assembly comprises a coupling member configured to actuate the anvil relative to the stapling head assembly, a firing assembly configured to drive the plurality of staples against the staple forming pockets of the anvil, and a deck member. The deck member includes a deck surface extending radially between an inner circular edge and an outer circular edge, and a plurality of staple openings extending through the deck surface. The plurality of staple openings define at least one cross shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: John K. Bruce, John S. Kimsey, Yvan D. Nguetio Tchoumkeu, Morgan R. Hunter, Cory G. Kimball, Gregory J. Bakos, Christopher Q. Seow, Pierre R. Mesnil, Laura A. Downing, Jeffery D. Bruns, Ryan W. McGhee, Chester O. Baxter, III, John E. Feds, Michael J. Stokes
  • Publication number: 20220378425
    Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument comprising an articulatable end effector including a staple cartridge is disclosed. The stapling instrument further comprises an articulation drive configured to articulate the end effector and a staple firing drive configured to fire the staples from the staple cartridge during a staple firing stroke. The articulation drive is selectively engageable with the staple firing drive to articulate the end effector and decoupled from the staple firing drive during the staple firing stroke. The stapling instrument further comprises a control system that is configured to compensate for the net displacement of the staple firing drive that occurs when articulating the end effector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Zhifan F. Huang, Richard L. Leimbach, Geoffrey C. Hueil, Nicholas J. Ross, Brian K. Spinneweber, Joshua R. Ruoff, Robbin B. Johnson, Daniel L. Baber, Pierre R. Mesnil
  • Publication number: 20220378426
    Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising an articulatable end effector and an articulation control system is disclosed. The articulation control system comprises actuators that, when actuated, cause the end effector to articulate in predetermined directions. When the end effector is rotated downwardly, the articulation control system flips, or switches, the response to the inputs from the actuators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Zhifan F. Huang, Richard L. Leimbach, Geoffrey C. Hueil, Nicholas J. Ross, Brian K. Spinneweber, Joshua R. Ruoff, Robbin B. Johnson, Daniel L. Baber, Pierre R. Mesnil, Marissa T. Kamenir
  • Publication number: 20220378424
    Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument comprising a tissue cutting knife movable through a staple cartridge to perform a staple firing stroke is disclosed. The stapling instrument further comprises a lockout system configured to prevent the tissue cutting knife from being moved through the staple firing stroke if the staple cartridge is missing from the stapling instrument and/or if the staple cartridge has been previously fired. The lockout system comprises a flexible spring that acts on the bottom of the tissue cutting knife at the initiation of the staple firing stroke to push the tissue cutting knife into a lockout recess if the staple cartridge is missing or has been previously fired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Zhifan F. Huang, Richard L. Leimbach, Geoffrey C. Hueil, Nicholas J. Ross, Brian K. Spinneweber, Joshua R. Ruoff, Robbin B. Johnson, Daniel L. Baber, Pierre R. Mesnil
  • Patent number: 11471157
    Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising a handle, a shaft rotatable relative to the handle, and an articulation joint rotatable relative to the shaft. The surgical instrument further comprises a motor-driven articulation system including articulation controls which are flipped by a control system of the surgical instrument when the shaft is rotated upside down relative to the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Chester O. Baxter, III, Richard L. Leimbach, Michael J. Stokes, Cory G. Kimball, Taylor W. Aronhalt, Matthew S. Corbin, Pierre R. Mesnil, Nicholas J. Ross, Shane R. Adams
  • Publication number: 20200345355
    Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising a handle, a shaft rotatable relative to the handle, and an articulation joint rotatable relative to the shaft. The surgical instrument further comprises a motor-driven articulation system including articulation controls which are flipped by a control system of the surgical instrument when the shaft is rotated upside down relative to the handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventors: Chester O. Baxter, III, Richard L. Leimbach, Michael J. Stokes, Cory G. Kimball, Taylor W. Aronhalt, Matthew S. Corbin, Pierre R. Mesnil, Nicholas J. Ross, Shane R. Adams